5 Things My #Allume Roomies Should Know About Me

October 19, 2014

This is getting real. I am going to #Allume this week…in 2 days, 6 hours and 23 minutes to be exact. I am leaving my three kids with my husband in the middle of the week to get on a plane and fly across the country to Greenville, SC for the Allume Conference for four whole days. I still can’t believe it. I am excited. I am nervous. I just might throw up.

Allume is this amazing community of Christian women who write, blog or aspire to. They hold a conference each fall to refresh, encourage and spur on women writers through inspirational speakers, fellowship gatherings and skills workshops. And this year, I GET TO GO! I first heard about Allume last winter when I began this crazy blogging journey. I knew it would be good for me to attend a blogging conference and there were three that I was mulling over. I finally settled on Allume mostly because of Sarah Mae, a blogging hero of mine.

I went shopping last week for new clothes, jewelry and a new purse so I can attempt to fit in with all the gorgeous, stylish and professional women that I know are coming. I’m packing my husband’s laptop (mine is being sent away for warranty repair), several notepads and pens, blog and book business cards and (gulp) a M2M book proposal that I have been working tirelessly on for an interview with a literary agent. Please cross your fingers, toes and whatever else you can that I don’t blow this!

So, now for the real question you are wondering about…why am I posting about this??? Well, in addition to gearing up for next week’s adoption month series and preparing for my trip, I have nothing else ready to post, nor do I have the time to promote it this week. Also, a couple weeks ago, one of my conference roommates that I haven’t yet met in person wrote a post on her blog about a few things we should know about her. She then challenged us to do the same and last week, Allume echoed that challenge, so here goes. To Aprille at Beautiful in His Time, Katie from Wonderfully Made and Jennifer from Jennifer’s Life Between:

1. Even though a test I took in high school said I am an extrovert, I can be really shy, awkward and self-depreciating at first. But get me talking and watch out, I might dominate the conversation. I am getting better at asking reciprocating and insightful questions, but if I’m a little hesitant, don’t give up on me. And if I talk too much, please feel free to tell me to shut up or take a breath and then talk about yourself.

2. Sometimes I talk, shout and laugh in my sleep. Sorry. BUT, I’m super nervous and we probably will be going to sleep very late every night anyway, which hopefully will help me sleep so deeply…or restlessly because I am so nervous. Either way, hopefully I won’t have time to sleep-talk.

3. Next to all the scheduled events and my aforementioned interview with a literary agent, I have no plans and know no one there. As such, I’m extremely nervous about striking up conversations with complete strangers and terribly afraid of having no one to talk to and sit with, so please include me on anything that you can!

4. I’m not much of a dress-up, hair and make-up, fancy person like I used to be when I was younger. In fact, since I had children and became a SAHM, I am pretty sad to say that I have gotten frumpy and not super stylish. I am trying to fix this, though, perhaps a little too forcefully as I went shopping last week literally just for this conference. So, any styling tips and shameless compliments would be much appreciated!

Comments

I’m so excited for you friend! May I add to your description? You are beautiful, talented, refreshingly optimistic, and REAL. And if it makes you feel any better, I laugh and talk in my sleep sometimes, too. I am praying for your trip and that you will experience so much joy as you engage other women at Allume.

Have fun! I’ve only been blogging six weeks and want to attend a conference sometime within the next year, so this post gets me pumped up! What other conferences did you look at attending? I’m in the Midwest, so I’m trying to find something within a reasonable driving distance to save money. Hope you enjoy your conference!

PS, I don’t know anyone either and since it sounds like Aprille and Katie are pretty tight I’m imagining you and I hanging out a lot. At least that’s what I’m telling myself so that I can stop freaking out about not knowing anyone. It’s an adventure, right?!?

Praying that your time will be all that God has designed it to be for you. The perfect mix of inspiration, writing, quiet, fun, and dwelling in His presence. Please come back to Unforced Rhythms to share your stories.

So since I was the one with you when you picked out all those clothes…you are going to be super cute and stylish just because you are you…new clothes or the old clothes. I’m so excited for you and excited for this adventure that is outside of your box!!

wow! so excited for you! I had thought of that myself – maybe next year??? Let me know what you learn and how you knock everyone dead. Just wear lipstick – it always works no matter how tired (and shy) you may feel! Go, girl!

Visiting from Rachel’s. Have a wonderful time at Allume. I’ve never attended, but from what I hear, it is a fabulous opportunity to be re-energized, inspired, and educated, and to make many new friends. Not too bad for one conference!